Strip aligning and tensioning device



Feb. 20, 1934. L. F. HAGEMANN 1,948,033

STRIP`ALIGNING AD TENSIONING DEVICE original Filed oct. 19, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 1 l .Ul l

w Hlm W W @MWL / INVENTOR.

Feb. 20, 1934-.

| F. HAGEMANN STRIP ALIGNING AND TENSIONING DEVICE 1927 2 shets--sheet Qrginal Filed Oct. 19

IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS. AQMMMJ AAbw/V.

latented Feb. 20, 1934 l 1,948,033 STRIP ALIGNING AND 'rENsIoNlNG DEVICE c-ouis F. Hagemann, Niagara Falls, NfY., as-

signor to American Sales Book Company,

Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a corporation of Ontario [application October 19, 192'?, Serial No. 222,269 Renewed June 3, 1933 12 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for controlling a record supply of billing machines, typewriting machines, and the like, and with respect to its more specific features, to devices of the character referred to for effecting the registrationl It is a further object to produce-a machinev of the character described which will be simple in construction and reliable in operation. The invention is Well adapted for use with a billing machine and on that account is herein so illustrated. Moreover, while suitable for use with different types of automatic feed, it is most simply illustrated in connection with a hand feed device.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects'of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which?, Y

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a machine embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top' plan ofthe same;

Fig. 3 is a detail showing the paper tensioning devices in the open position;

Fig. 4 is a' view of the strip with which the device is intended to be used.

n In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates a .framework supporting a platen 2 over which a -plur'ality of strips 3, 4 and 5 are adapted to be fed from a record supply 6, being guided and tensioned by a tensioning mechanism generally indicated at '7, The machine is primarily intended for use where the record forms are carried successively on a plurality of continuous strips with carbon interposed therebetween although for the sake of simplicity, the carbon is not here illustrated.

To secure the alignment of the superposed records itis preferable that each of the record forms shall be provided with feed control apertures and the machine is preferably provided with means to engage the apertures.

These aperturesvare so arranged rrelative to the forms and to the engaging means that when the apertures of the various superposed strips (Cl. H-133) are brought into alignment, the`forms printed on the strips will bear the desired relative relation. This engaging means, as illustrated, "comprises pins l1 mounted in sockets 12 in the frame l and pressed upwardly by springs 13. A screw 14 is arranged to limit the upward movement of the pins in response to the spring. To retain the forms .adjacent to or in contact with the pins at will a cross-bar 15 is mounted above them, but it is arranged to be lifted far enough above them to permit free feeding of the strips or to be depressed to a point where it will engage the top of the pins. The spring pressed character of the pins is for the purpose of enabling the bar slightly to depress them to insure contact. The material of the casing immediately surrounding the,pins, as shown at 20, is slightly below the level of the platen surface so that, as the bar 15 is raised there is some tendency, due to the resiliency of the strips, for the strips to rise above the tops of the pins 11.

In order to raise the bar 15 there is provided a treadle 23 carried by a lever 24 pivoted as at 25 to a lever 26 which in turn is pivoted to the frame 1 as shown at 2'?. The bar 15 is carried by a bifurcated lever pivoted on a. shaft 31 carried by the frame 1. The lever 30 has second and third arms 32 and 33, the former of which is connected by a spring 34 to the frame, as shown at 35, normally to hold the bar 15 depressed. A lever 36 pivoted to the frame, as shown at 37, connectswith the end of the lever 33, while another lever 38 is pivoted to the lever 36 at substantially its midpoint, as shown at 39. The lever 38 has its forward end engaging beneath the shaft 31 to serve as a fulcrum, while at its rear end, as shown at 40, it is connected to the lever 24 by a link 41. It will thus be seen that A as the treadle 23 is depressed the link 38 will depress the pivotal connection 39 and hence depress the lever arm 33 to rotate the lever 30 counterclockwise to raise the bar 15.

vThe strip tensioning mechanism comprises, in general, a box-like frame comprising side' members 51, held in spaced relation at the sides of the machine by rods 521 A plurality of guides 53 is carried by each of these side members to support and position the side bars 54 of a carrier 55 to permit -a limited longitudinal movement of the carrier in the direction of feed of the strips. Theside bars 54 are held in proper spaced relation to engage the guides 53 by rods 56 and the longitudinal movement. of the carrier is effected by a shaft 58 journalled in the side members 51 and carrying bifurcated arms 59 adapted and positioned to engage one of the' rods 56 so that, as the shaft 58 is 'oscillated a longitudinal movement will be effected of the carriage. The

shaft 58 also carries an arm 60 connected by a 61 and turn-buckle 62 with the lever 24. This turn-buckle permits the proper adjustment of the length of the link. The carrier 55 is provided with a plurality of spaced, parallel strip guides 65 which are held rigidly in position between the side bars 54 and cooperating with each. of the said strip guides is a weighted arm adapted to bear, by gravity, against Aa-sheet to urge it toward the corresponding guide. These weighted arms are preferably formed of longitudinal rods 56, each individually eccentrically mounted,` as shown at 67, so that, by reason of its eccentricity,

its strip-engaging portion may bear against the strip by gravity or may be rotated away from the vstrip to free the same. Each of these rods vis is provided with a felt pad 68 fitting within aslot 69 formed in the 'rod and `serving as the strip engaging portion. Referring to Figs. 1 and 3 it will be noticed that the felt pad of each rod 66 is positioned to grip the strip against the strip guides 65 before reaching the dead vcenter line between the rod and the strip guide. It will be seen that the rod in engaging the strips moves in the direction contrary to strip feed so that drawing the strip tends to release rather than lock it. Each of the strip guides or guide plates 65 has at its upper portion a curved bearing surface against which-the strip rests and is guided while the lower portion of the guide plate functions as a bearing or gripper jaw against which the companion gripper jaw, provided by the adjacent rod 66, engages to grip the record strip.

Each of the rods 66 isi` also provided with an upwardly projecting pin in the path of and in position to engage al corresponding pin 76 carried by the side members 51 of the box frame to lift the rods out of engagement with the strip when the carrier has reached its extreme forward position. `'.lhe box frame 50 is preferably arranged to 'swing upwardly relative to the main frame l and this may be readily accomplished by pivoting it at its forward end, as shown at 80, to the main frame and providing it with an open notch 8l at the rear in position to engage a transverse spacing rod 82 of the frame l.

A plurality of guides may be provided 'compris- 52 of the box frame, being held in position by suitable set screws 87. Thus each of the guides is adjustable laterally, inwardly from the sides of the frame to permit the use of sheets of less width than the width of the frame but to maintain them, nevertheless, in proper superposed relation as they reach the platen. The strip supply itself is preferably in the form of a plurality of superposed sheetsinterfolded in zigzag formation.

From the above construction the operation will, it is thought, be clear. As successive forms lie upon the platen, the apertures 10 will be in engagement with the pins l1 and will be held in place by the bar 15. When it is desired to feed the strips subsequent to inscription the strips are grasped at their forward edges and the treadle 2.3 depressed. This raises the bar 15 and permits the strips to be lifted off of the pins. At the same time thetreadle moves the carrier 55 forwardly in the direction of feed, aording a certain minimum amount of slack at the time the feed is started. When the treadle has been completely Leganes depressed the carrier 55 is carried forward to the point where the pins 75 upon the rods 66 engage the pins 76 on the frame, as shown in Fig. 3, to lift the felt out of contact with the strips to permit the strips to be freely pulled forward without the necessity of overcoming the resistance of the tensioning device. The strips are now brought forward to the point of bringing the next tear-off line in alignment with the bar 15, at which point the pins 11 arein registry with the next set of apertures l0. The treadle may now be released, whereupon it is moved upwardly by the spring 34 to bring the bar 15 again into engagement with the pins holding the strips in proper relation thereto, While at the same time the 3 carrier 55 is forced backwardly. As soon as this motion starts the felt pads come in contact with the strips before reaching the dead center line between the bar or rod 66 and the guide 65 and thereafter the further movement urges each strip independently backwardly by reason of the frlction upon the strips caused by their engagement with the. guides 65 and the felt padsy 68. This brings each ofthe strips independently into alignment with the pins 11 in engagement with the inner side of the aligning apertures. This individual aligning action of the strips will be completed while the apertures of said strips are engaged by the aligning pins 1l, but before the bar 15 has fully descended upon the strips so as to permit free alignment of the latter; in other words, the bar 15 is released from contact against the strips during the-aligning action of the latter.

By the foregoing construction, it will be clear that-the record forms are held in accurate alignment over the platen by reason of the engagement of the aperture at the forward end of each form with the pins, and by reason of the separate tension exerted upon each strip as it is pulled backwardly by the carrier. Moreover, the general level of the tops of the guides 65 of the carrier relative to the upper surface of the platen is such as to cause the strips to lie ilatupon the platen. When the feeding operation is commenced the depression of the treadle 23 not only Areleases the front end of the strips from the pins 11 but relieves all tension upon the strips so that they may be fed forward without tending to draw the interleaved carbons with them. When the strips are fed forward to the point where the next control apertures engage the pins i1, the independent drawing backward of each of the strips as hereinbefore described, again brings each of the sheets taut with the next set of forms in proper registering position over the platen and the loweringof'the bar 15 facilitates the tearing off of the strips if desired.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made Without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specic features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A strip tensioning device adapted for use with a machine having a platen employing reci llc ifi-c carriage including operate with one the direction of strip feed, a strip guilde upon the carriage, a gravity controlled member comprising a bar eccentrically pivoted to move relative to said guide into and out of a strip engaging relation thereto, means for reciprocating the carriage including means to raise the gravity controlled member to release the strip when the carriage is in its extreme position in the direction of movement of the strip and to re-engage the strip before the completion of the movement of the carriage contrary to the direction of feed whereby further movement of thev carriage tends to draw the strip backward.

2. A strip tensioning device adapted for use with a machine having a platen and employing record strips movable over said platen comprising a carriage reciprocal relative to the platen in the direction "of strip feed, a strip guide upon the carriage, a gravity controlled bar eccentrically pivoted to move toward and away from the guide, said bar having a felt surface adapted to engage the strip when said bar is moved to a strip. engaging position, means forreciprocating the means to raise the gravity member to release the strip when the carriage is in its extreme position in the direction of movement of the lstrip and to re-engage the strip before the completion of themovement of the carriage contrary to the direction of feed whereby further movement of the carriage tends to draw the strip backward.

3. A strip tensioning device adapted for use with a machine having a platen and employing record strips movable relative thereto comprising a carriage reciprocal relative to the machine, a plurality of strip guides upon the carriage and a plurality of gravity controlled strip engaging -gravity elements, each mounted upon the carriage, each adapted to cooperate with oneA of the strip guides to engage the strip, means for reciprocating the carriage including means for raising each of the gravity members to release the corresponding strip when the carriage is in its extreme position in the direction of movement of the strip, and to re-engage the strip before the completion of the movement of the carriage contrary to the direction of feed wheren by each of the-strips is independently drawn backwardly vas the said movement is completed.

4. A strip tensioning device adapted for use with a machine having a platen and employing record strips movable relative thereto comprising a carriage reciprocal relative to the machine, a plurality of strip' guides uponthe carriage and a plurality of gravity controlled strip engaging elements, each comprising a rod eccentrically pivoted upon the carriage, each adapted to coof the strip guides toV engage the strip, means for reciprocating the carriage including means for raising each of the gravity members to release the corresponding strip when the carriage isin its extreme position in the din rection of movement of the strip, and to re-engage 'i l the strip before the completion of the movement of thecarriage contrary to the direction of feed whereby each of the strips is independently drawn backwardly as the said movement is completed.

5. A strip tensioning device adapted for use with a. machine having a platen and employing record strips movable relative thereto comprisjing a carriage reciprocal relative to the machine, a plurality oi strip guides upon the carriage and a plurality oi' gravity controlled strip 'engaging elements, each mounted upon the carriage, 'each adapted to cooperate with 'one of thel strip guides to engage the strip, means for reciprocating the carriage including means for raising each yof the gravity members to-release the corresponding strip when the carriage is in its extreme position in the direction of movement of the strip,'and to re-engage the strip before the completion of the movement of the carriage contrary to the direction of feed whereby each of the strips is independently drawn backwardly as the said movement is completed, each of said engaging elements comprising a rod eccentrically pivoted and having a felt vurface in position to engage the strip when the rod is moved to strip engaging position. v

6. A strip tensioning device adapted for use with a machine having a platen and employing record strips movable over said platen comprising a carriage reciprocal relative to the platen in the direction of strip feed, a strip guide upon the carriage, a gravity controlled member comprising a bar eccentrically pivoted to move relative to said guide into and out of a strip engaging relation thereto, said bar being so mounted as to be releasable in the direction of feed and to cause trolled member to release the strip when the carriage is in its extreme position in the direction of movement of the strip and to re-engage the strip before thecompletion of the movement of the carriage contrary to the direction of feed whereby further movement of the carriage tends to draw the stripbackward. Y

7. In 'a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen over which record strips are adapted to be moved, means positioned at one end of the writing area of said platen for holding one of said strips, and a strip tensioning gripper for gripping said held strip beyond the opposite end of said Writing area and including a bodily reciprocal, eccentrically pivoted gripping rod movable on its pivot to and from strip gripping position.

8. In a manifolding machine, in combination,

a platen over which record strips are adapted to be moved, a strip gripper mounted for bodily reciprocation and including a strip engaging member and an eccentrically pivoted, gravity-controlled gripper bar adapted to be moved by gravity into gripping position with relation to said strip engaging member which is fixed against rotation, means for reciprocating said strip gripper and for moving it when gripping the strip to tension and align it, and means for controlling the strip..

iment relative to the platen adjacent tothe -path of strip feed, means for restraining a record strip forwardly of the platen against rearward movement after it has been forwardly fed, a strip engaging member in fixed position upon said carriage, a weighted strip gripping member movably mounted on said carriage and located thereon adjacent said fixed strip gripping member so as to move against the latter under the influence of its weight to grip the record strip, means for reciprocating the carriage and therewith said strip engaging member and said weighted strip gripping member, means automatically operable ioG bei

upon cerriege movement in one direction to move said weighted' strip gripping niemeer to release the strip. grip when the'cerriege is in its extreme forward position in the direction o' strip feed and to rie-establish the strip grip loefore tine completion ci cerriege movement in the opposite direction so es to drew the strip backwardly to eiect smoothing and tensioning thereof.

1o. in u ineniiolding machine, in combination, s platen over which record strips ere sdepted to be fed, e carriage mounted forreciprocetion longitudinally oi end edjecent to the path-o strip feed, o plurality of strip engaging members mounted in position upon seid Gerrie/ge for reciprocation therewith, e, movable vgripper loer for each oi seid strip engaging members, e gravity mounting for each of sairigripper bers whereby seid bars ore moi/soie by grevity into strip gripping relation with the respective strip engaging members to individually grip the record strips, the strip engaging part of eecl'i seid gripper bar being positioned for strip engagement before reaching the dead center line `lzietvveen seid ber end seid strip engaging member, moons for moving seid carriage when the strips are gripped by seid gripper bars to `tension and align the strips on the pieten, and nutomotio means for releasing the strip grip during reverse carriage movement. Y

1l. In e. meniolding machine, inA combination,

e, platen over which record strips ere adapted to be fed, s, cerriege mounted for reciprocstion longitudinelly of end ediecent to the petti oiv i I weones strip feed, e, plurality of strip engaging members mounted in xed position upon seid corriege for.

reciprocetion therewith, e moveble gripper bar for each of seid strip engaging members, e, grevity mounting for each of seid gripper bars whereby sold bers are movable by gravity into strip' :ineens when seid carriage is moved forwardly in direction of strip feed, and means for entomsticglly releasing the strip grip of seid gravity gripper bers upon forward movement 'of seid carriage to release the strips to forw'srd feeding v:movementI said strip grip being rer-established upon rearward movement of the carriage so es to tension and align the strips upon the platen.

l2. In e, munifolding machine, in combination, s platen over which record strips may ioe fed, e strip aligning strip gripper mounted for bodily reciprocation and including e, strip engaging member and ein eccentricelly pivoted gripper loer positioned for strip gripping cooperation with seid strip engaging member, seid gripper bar having e soft strip engaging pad mounted thereon and-positioned for strip engagement before reaching the desd center line between seid loer end seid strip engaging mein er, and means for operating said strip gripper to'eect strip eiign= ment.

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